The Utah Transit Authority will offer free transit throughout its six county service area for one day on Friday, Feb. 12. UTA services, including buses, TRAX light rail and FrontRunner commuter rail, will be free for all riders that day as part of a special Learn to Ride promotion; UTA ski buses will not be part of the promotion and will still require a paid fare.

UTA General Manager John Inglish announced the free transit day at a press conference held at the state capitol on Jan. 29. The UTA announcement came in support of Utah's "Clean Air Challenge", which has been endorsed by Utah Governor Gary Herbert, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and mayors from across the Wasatch Front.

"Our region has significant air quality challenges, and we encourage people to try transit instead of driving their own vehicle." Inglish said. The Learn to Ride Transit promotion will be valid the entire day on Feb. 12 from the earliest morning trips until service ends at approximately midnight. Bus operators will not collect fares, and ticket vending machines located on train platforms will be covered. Regular fare collection will resume on Saturday, Feb.13.

Bus and train schedules and other information on how to ride are available on UTA's website at www.rideuta.com.For other travel alternatives, UTA's site features information on carpooling, vanpooling, and biking.

"We hope that by offering a free Learn to Ride day, new people will try transit, learn that it can work for them and become regular riders." Inglish said. "By riding transit or carpooling just once a week, collectively we can make a difference in regional air quality."

UTA provides mass transit services to Salt Lake, Davis, Weber and parts of Utah, Tooele and Box Elder counties.